• Steel Soldiers now has a few new forums, read more about it at: New Munitions Forums!

  • Microsoft MSN, Live, Hotmail, Outlook email users may not be receiving emails. We are working to resolve this issue. Please add support@steelsoldiers.com to your trusted contacts.

M939 tire clearance?

Mos68x

Active member
827
36
28
Location
Seligman,AZ
I'm seriously considering build a dedicated frame to mount an ISO container to the truck, but I need to know what the tire travel (14.00s) is above the frame?

I already did the load bearing calculations for frame and would need to use 3x4 (7g) tubing, assuming a load of 6,700lbs. I'm sure I could go less since that is more than the tare weight of the entire container just for one beam, but since I don't know what total weight will be I would rather err on the side of caution. I have an idea that I could try if I need to make more clearance for the tires, but if it ends up being a considerable amount I would rather just put spacers between the frame and chassis instead.
 

VPed

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
1,109
307
83
Location
Clint, TX
I lightly rub the bed cross members above all four rear tires on full trunnion articulation with no load in the bed. Truck is an M927 with Goodyear ATs.
 

Buffalobwana

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
1,394
178
63
Location
Frisco Texas
There are rubber "stops" installed to stop the travel. Measure on level ground, then you have a good starting point to figure out the travel. You can use smaller tires too if you miss it by an inch or so.
 

Mos68x

Active member
827
36
28
Location
Seligman,AZ
There are rubber "stops" installed to stop the travel. Measure on level ground, then you have a good starting point to figure out the travel. You can use smaller tires too if you miss it by an inch or so.
I was going to use that to start with but that doesn't say anything about a load though.
 

Buffalobwana

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
1,394
178
63
Location
Frisco Texas
I wonder if it's buried deep in the annals of the multiple TMs. Somewhere in those thousands of pages is a footnote saying what deflection can be expected with full articulation at certain loads.

What are you doing where you are going to be encountering extreme terrain with an ISO container? I'd be afraid of tipping it over before rubbing tires. Or are you just planning for worst case scenario?

Im wondering if you will reach max height, before you can even start adding inches on top of the frame to avoid rubbing?

Dont know if this is helpful or just chatter. But it's my thoughts!
 

Mos68x

Active member
827
36
28
Location
Seligman,AZ
Took the truck out to a local spot and had a little fun, also happened to answer some of my question. Now I just need to find a dummy load of about 8k.

IMG_7391.JPGIMG_7390.JPGIMG_7389.JPG
 

simp5782

Feo, Fuerte y Formal
Supporting Vendor
12,125
9,386
113
Location
Mason, TN
Get away from 14.00s. They are getting old and harder to find. 395s give you 1.5inch less height on top and bottom.plus they are cheaper and easier to find.

Dummy load could be a concrete companies ecology blocks or borrow a transfer barrier.

Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk
 

Mos68x

Active member
827
36
28
Location
Seligman,AZ
14.00s is what came on it, and until I get some money saved up to get new ones these will have to do for a while.
 

Buffalobwana

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
1,394
178
63
Location
Frisco Texas
I am switching 2 trucks to 16.00's in the next two weeks. So I'll have 14 of the 14's gathering dust for a while. Until I get a truck that needs new shoes or I decide to switch back.

I know 395's are the sensible choice. Increased acceleration off the line, cheaper, common etc. but, I didn't get into this hobby because it's sensible. But, that's just me. At some point, you do have to make sensible choices. 16.00's come at a cost, both financial and mechanical (especially with a truck that has abnormally slow starts off the line.) I'll live with it. :)
 

Nomadic

Active member
337
79
28
Location
Nevada
What size are the 395 tires converted to the same unit of measurement as the 14's? I'm confused on how to differentiate the sizes.
 

Buffalobwana

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
1,394
178
63
Location
Frisco Texas
I believe they are 3" shorter? I forget. Someone posed a pic of 395, 14's and 16's. The difference just from one to the next was pretty big. A 395 next to a 16 is huge difference. Width and just overall size was an impressive difference.
 

Buffalobwana

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
1,394
178
63
Location
Frisco Texas
The 14 and 16 are easy. 14.00" from the rim (on each side, top and bottom) plus 20" rim = 48" add an inch of inflation (1/2" each side) and real height is 49"

16.00 are 16x2+20=52" + 1" inflation= 53"

395 is an aspect ratio I believe. I don't know that formula. But I do know how to google stuff. :)
 

Mos68x

Active member
827
36
28
Location
Seligman,AZ
395 is an aspect ratio I believe. I don't know that formula. But I do know how to google stuff. :)
That's just as easy, you just have to remember that the first number is in mm instead of inches. the second number is the sidewall ratio in percentage of the main tread.

395*.85=335.75*2=671.5mm sidewall total
671.5/25.4(mm per in)=26.437in
26.437+20=46.437in
 

Swamp Donkey

The Engineer
Steel Soldiers Supporter
1,450
120
63
Location
Gray, GA
Metric to standard conversion.

Screenshot_2017-05-12-14-41-36.jpg

Empty truck with 14.00×20 Michelin XLs. Those rubber bump stops will squash flat on an empty truck if you completely lift a tire or even come close. I wouldn't even count them in your figures. If you need to adjust travel distance go with some urethane bump stops or make some spacers to lower the bump stops.

20161124_142310.jpg

IMG_20141011_123311_190.jpg

IMG_20141011_123239_444.jpg
 

Bhpdbrad

Member
103
13
18
Location
Ventura County, CA
Buffalowana - I asked in another thread - but you may know...
I was told by someone that has and/or works on the 923 & 925 A2's - that said when airing down for 'Sand' on the CTIS the 1600's will rub. I was trying to wrap my head around the notion of how less air increases tire diameter.... unless the increased sidewall buldge rubs?? Do you know?

I am switching 2 trucks to 16.00's in the next two weeks. So I'll have 14 of the 14's gathering dust for a while. Until I get a truck that needs new shoes or I decide to switch back.

I know 395's are the sensible choice. Increased acceleration off the line, cheaper, common etc. but, I didn't get into this hobby because it's sensible. But, that's just me. At some point, you do have to make sensible choices. 16.00's come at a cost, both financial and mechanical (especially with a truck that has abnormally slow starts off the line.) I'll live with it. :)
 
Last edited:
Top
AdBlock Detected

We get it, advertisements are annoying!

Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website like our supporting vendors. Their ads help keep Steel Soldiers going. Please consider disabling your ad blockers for the site. Thanks!

I've Disabled AdBlock
No Thanks